Pickin



(No Model.)

G. W. PIGKIN.

INHALER.

No. 590,376. I Patented Sept. 21,1897.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

GEORGE W'ASHINGTON PIOKIN, OF EAU CLAIRE, XVISCONSIN, ASSIGNOR OF ONE-HALF TO WILLIAM A. KINNEAR, OF SAME PLACE.

INYHALER.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 590,376, dated September 21,1897. Application filed March 10, 1896. Serial No. 582,647. on model.)

To aZZ whom it may concern: of the medicine-chamber, showing the air- Be it known that I, GEORGE ASHINGTON ports and pivoted cover for covering the same. PICKIN, a citizen of the United States, resid- Similar numerals of reference designate ing at Eau Claire, in the county of Eau Claire corresponding parts in the several figures of and State of \Visconsin, have invented a new the drawings. 5

and useful Inhaler, of which the following is Referring to the accompanying drawings, a specification. 1 designates the body of the inhaler, which is This invention relates to inhalers for use in of substantially conical form, as shown, the treating diseases of the airpassages of the large end of the cone forming the mouth-andhead, throat, and lungs. nose-receiving portion of the inhaler. The

The object of the present invention is to mouth 2 of the inhaler is of irregular form, provide a novel and eificient construction of being fashioned with especial reference to the inhaler formed in such manner as to inclose facial anatomy, the upper portion of the inboth the mouth and nose of the patient, the haler being cut away in V shape, as indicated 15 same being held upon the head by means of at 3, to accommodate the nose of the patient, an elastic band. passing around the head or while the cheek portions 4, between the angle neck and fastened to the inhaler at each end. of the V and the lower portion of the mouth, The said inhaler is provided with a separable are curved to fit snugly against the face upon attachment constituting a chamber in which either side of the nose, the lower portion 5 20 may be placed the desired medicine eitherin being given a gentle curve to accommodate liquid or powder form, and the body of the the same to the chin. This edge is turned inhaler is provided with separate and indeover or rolled to afford sufficient thickness to pendent air-passages, one constituting the make the same fit comfortably and closely inhaling-passage, affording communication against the face, and the same may, if de- 2 5 between the medicine-chamber and the body sired, be covered with textile material or of the inhaler, and the other forming the expadded, so that the contour of the mouth of haling-passages through-which the breath the inhaler will conform closely and snugly of the patient escapes without entering the to the face of the patient and effectively exmedicine-chamber, a single flap-valve being clude air at such point.

0 located between said passages for automatic- The rear portion of the inhaler is cylin- 8o ally opening and closing the same. drical in form, as indicated at 6, and this is The invention consists in certain novel feaadapted to receive a medicine chamber 7. tures and details of construction and arrange- This chamber is in the form of an annular ment of parts, as hereinafterfully described, case or cylinder, in the outer end of which is 3 5 illustrated in the drawings,and finallypointed arranged a stationary perforated disk 7*. In out in the claims hereto appended. the inner end of the chamber or case 7 is re- In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is movably inserted a second perforated disk 8, a perspective view of the inhaler constructed having a cross bar or wire '9, forming a hanin accordance with the present invention. dle by which-the disk may be removed and re- 40 Fig. 2 is a longitudinal sectional view of the placed, and also provided with an annular o same. Fig. 3 is a reverse plan view of the flange 10 for giving the proper support to the same, showing the pivoted cut-01f orregulator disk when in place and preventing the same controlling the exhalation-passage. Fig. sis from tilting and thus becoming loose. The a detail perspective view of the flap-valve disk 8 fits into the chamber 7 with sufficient 45 and its holder. Fig. 5 is a similar view of tightness to cause the same to be retained the removable perforate disk of the medicinetherein by frictional contact. Between the chamber. Fig. 6 is a sectional view of a two perforated disks of the chamber 7 is modified form of medicine-chamber. Fig. 7 placed a sponge or other absorbent 11, which is an inside face view of one of the telescopic will take up the medicine to be used,'or the 50 sections thereof. Fig. 8 is a detail elevation sponge may be removed and medicine placed IOO within the chamber in dry or powdered form. The medicine-chamber 7 is preferably applied to the inhaler proper by a frictional telescopic connection. Outside of and beyond the disk 7 is another disk 12, having airports 13 and also provided with a centrallypivoted cover 14, which may be turned in such manner as to either open or close the air-ports. In use the air-ports are left open, but when not in use the air-ports are closed to prevent the too-rapid evaporation of the medicine contained within the medicinechamber.

In Figs. 6 and 7 I have illustrated a medicine-chamber which is particularly adapted for holding medicine in liquid form. This comprises two telescopic cylindrical cases 15 and 16, the inner or forward one, 15, having a central aperture by which the air is admitted to the inhaler and also provided with an annular flange 17, adapted to embrace the cylindrical portion of the inhaler, whereby the said medicine case or chamber may be connected in the inhaler. The telescoping portions of the case or medicine-chamber are provided in their peripheries or outer flanges with air-inlet openings 18, which may be brought into or thrown out of alinement by rotating one part of the case relatively to the other. WVithin the inner member of this case or medicine-chamber is a spirally-coiled web 19 of the same width as the peripheral flange surrounding the same, the said Web forming aninvolute air-passage,through which the air passes to the central opening 17 and thence to the inhaler. A felt or textile packing-disk 20 is arranged in the outer end of the outer portion of the case or medicine-chamber, so as to prevent the air from getting by the edges of the web 19, thus forcing the same to travel in said involnte passage. A spirally-coiled wire is placed in this involute passage and extends from one end to the other thereof, the said wire forming a base or support about or around which may be placed absorbent cotton or any other absorbent material which will take up medicine in liquid form and hold the same. By this construction and arrangement the air is forced to travel an extended course before it reaches the inhaler, and being subjected throughout such course to the medicine the air becomes thoroughly impre nated with such medicine, thus adding to the efficacy of the treatment.

Vithin the inhaler is permanently secured an elbow-pipe 21, the lower end of which communicates, through an opening 22 in the lower part of the inhaler, with the outer atmosphere. This opening 22 is surrounded by an annular flange This opening is closed a little more than half by a stationary and substantially semicircular diaphragm having semicircular notches 24c, and upon such diaphragm as a support is pivotally mounted a rotatable cut-oif 25 in the form of a substantially semicircular plate provided with semicircular notches in its diametrical edge which correspond to the notches of the stationary diaphragm. The cutoff has a depending stud 27, by which it may be manipulated or turned for regulating the size of the exhalation-passage.

WVithin the rear annular portion of the inhaler and between the rear end of the tubular elbow 21 and the medicine-chamber 6 is located a flap-valve 28. This valve is pivoted at one edge to a removable valve-seat 29 in the form of a disk provided with an annular flange 30, entirely or partially surrounding the same and bearing snugly within the cylindrical portion of the inhaler, thus serving to prevent the valve-seat from tilting.

The valve-seat has a central opening 31, af-' fording communication between the inhaler and the medicine-chamber, and such opening is crossed by a diametrical bar or wire 32, forming a finger-hold by means of which the valveseat and valve may be removed when necessary. The valve 28 works between the inhalation-passage 31 and the inner orifice of the elbow-pipe 21, forming the exhalation-passage, and alternately closes one and opens the other during respiration, thus rendering the inhaler absolutely safe.

It will be apparent from the foregoing description that a very simple and efficient inhaler is produced, the advantage gained by its peculiar construction being that the remedies may be applied and used while the person is at rest, and even during sleep, thus providing for a continuous application ofthe remedy throughout the night while the system is relaxed and in condition to more readily receive the full benefit thereof. The construction is such that it is impossible for the air-passages to become closed and thereby exclude the necessary amount of air, the valve being so arranged that should one passage become obstructed air would be drawn through the other passage, it being impossible for the valve to simultaneously close both passages.

The inhaler may be worn by the patient while in anyposition, either lying on the back or side or reclining at an angle, and is particularly designed for use in treating diseases of the air-passages of the head, throat, and lungs.

It will be apparent that changes in the form, proportion, and minor details of construction may be resorted to without departing from the spirit or sacrificing any of the advantages of this invention.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed as new is- 1. An inhaler provided with an exhalationpassage and having a medicine-chamber provided with an inhalation passage leading therefrom to the interior of the inhaler, in combination with a valve located between the said passages and adapted to be operated automatically by respiration to alternately close and open said passages, substantially as and for the purpose described.

2. An inhaler provided with an internally arranged tubular elbow forming the exhalation-passage, in combination with a medicinechamber attached to the body of the inhaler,

a central outlet in one of the end pieces, and

having a spiral passage communicating at its ends with, respectively, the said inlet and outlet, and a spiral support for an absorbent material located in the said spiral passage, substantially as described.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my own I have hereto affixed my signature in the presence of two Witnesses.

GEORGE WASHINGTON PICKIN.

lVitnesses:

ASA 0. W001), THOMAS HUTCHINSON. 

